Industrial disputes & news - 6 March 2024
Network Aviation; Otis & Kone; parking for healthcare workers; Vline; Transgrid; Australian Public Service; BAE Systems; RFDS nurses; ANMF Vic EBA; Virgin Australia; International WORKING Women's Day
AFAP - Network Aviation
AFAP is continuing their strike action at Network Aviation. They planned to strike on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week, but made an error with written notifications. So after striking on Monday will now have to wait until Friday to strike again. Pilots are due to vote on the same agreement they voted down in December on March 12. If voted down again (seems likely!) the dispute will go to the FWC on 14 March for Qantas’ intractable bargaining application. #ausunions
CEPU Tasmania - Otis & Kone elevators
Like Saputo workers, Otis and Kone elevator technicians in Tasmania are taking stop work action and imposing industrial bans in pursuit of pay parity with their mainland colleagues. CEPU members took a half day of strike action 1 March, and are not attending after hour calls. The CEPU claims Tassie lift techs earn 20% less than the same workers interstate, despite the companies charging clients the same rates.
HSU NSW - Parking costs
Around 1000 healthcare workers (HSU members) at 5 Sydney hospitals and 11 other health care facilities across the state walked off the job for 2 hours on Thursday 29 March. The workers are fighting for the cost of parking at their workplaces, which the union has called “the government’s latest cash grab”. Parking fees have surged in comparison to pre-COVID levels, even doubling in some cases. This action by the HSU, follows several protests by the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association.
RTBU Vic - Vline
The RTBU is escalating industrial action at Vline with a 13 hour strike planned for Friday 8 March. This will be the 7th strike workers have taken since December with huge potential for disruption on the day before a long weekend.
ETU NSW - Transgrid
Another bargaining update from the ETU. Some slow progress, but no movement from Transgrid on wages. The ETU is standing firm on its 8% per year increase position.
CPSU - APSC
A quick update on Australian Public Sector bargaining: Katy Gallagher released a statement that confirmed the four biggest agencies (ATO, Department of Home Affairs, Services Australia and the Department of Defence) had voted up their enterprise agreements. The statement also shared that it was expected all agencies would conclude bargaining by the deadline of 14 March, to allow workers access to the first scheduled pay increase. The CPSU has released a list of agencies and the results of their ballots - the lowest endorsement, perhaps unsurprisingly, being at the ATO with 76.87%. This is not an entirely done deal though, with some non-CPSU covered workers (ie AFP, public service trade, technical and emergency staff and some statutory authorities) pursuing industrial action, or going to the FWC, unhappy with the deal being foisted upon them.
AMWU/ETU/MUA WA - BAE Systems
Unions are running a NO campaign to vote down a subpar agreement put forward by the bosses at BAE Systems. “The MUA says to BAE that if you want to keep your skilled workforce then stop making shit pay offers!” Workers took industrial action at Henderson Shipyard in January.
QNMU - RFDS
Nurses at the Royal Flying Doctor Service have voted up their EBA. 86.3% voted in favour of the agreement that includes 9-11.4% wage increases over 3 years; a reduction in shifts; and a lump sum back payment. The QNMU acknowledges that the agreement doesn’t represent everything members fought for, but it is a “significant” improvement from earlier offers, and sets the union up well for the next EBA.
ANMF Vic - EBA 24 Campaign
It is an EBA year for the ANMF Victorian Branch and they will be holding a state wide mass meeting on 21 March to provide an update to members on how negotiations are progressing. Members will also get a campaign t-shirt! Would love to hear an update on how this goes from any nurses reading!
TWU - Virgin Australia
The TWU reached an in-principle agreement with Virgin Australia in December which has now been endorsed by cabin crew workers. 90% voted in favour of the EBA. A media release from the TWU announcing the result, closed by mentioning “outstanding agreements” for VARA (Virgin Australia Regional Airlines) pilots and cabin crew which the union wants resolved “quickly and sufficiently”. It would appear VARA, based in WA, is similar to Qantas’ Network Aviation (currently in dispute) operating mainly within regional WA to service FIFO workers.
International WORKING Women’s Day - Friday 8 March
Don’t let the bosses steal this day - it belongs to the workers! Definitely don’t go to an exxy breakfast that doesn’t provide free childcare, but get along to a rally if you can. Details linked below:
Sydney ● Brisbane ● Adelaide ● Hobart ● Melbourne ● Perth
That’s all I’ve got this week, thanks for reading. Please let me know what I’ve missed!
In solidarity, Sarah